Kurayukaba Anime Film Casts Matsunojō Kanda

The official website for the feature-length film of Shigeyoshi Tsukahara and Twiflo's original anime project Kurayukaba announced on Friday that professional storyteller Matsunojō Kanda will play the main character Sо̄taro, who pursues the mystery of the mass disappearance in the deep subterranean world.

Twin Engine's official Motion Gallery crowdfunding campaign for the film launched in April 2020, and it aimed to raise 20 million yen (about US$188,000) before its end in August 2020. The campaign raised 8,798,500 yen (about US$79,513).

The new crowdfunding campaign was intended to fund a film of more than 40 minutes in length. Shigeyoshi Tsukahara ("The Man Traveling with the Brocade Portrait," "Joseito," "Hashi no Mukou," SEKAI NO OWARI rock band's in-concert anime footage and set design) is making his feature-length directorial debut with the anime at Makaria. Kazunori Minagawa (animation director on Macross Delta, Tokyo Ravens, Yuruyuri, Code Geass: Akito the Exiled) is designing the characters, and Ryo-timo (Yozakura Quartet) is credited as special animator.

maxcaffy is handling CG and serving as director of photography. Pochi is in charge of art setting and the original backgrounds. The "design works" staff members are Chōta Akatsuki, Keeze, Takeshi Ishikawa, Kazunoko, Kitsuneiro, Kahi, and Shie Nanahara.

The project's previous crowdfunding campaign that ran from December 2018 to February 2019 funded the pilot film. The campaign raised 6,901,864 yen (about US$63,000) from 397 backers: 276% of its 2,500,000 yen (about US$22,100) goal. The campaign reached its 4,000,000 yen (about US$35,300) stretch goal to create a one-minute video (the original goal was for a 30-second video).

Twiflo describes the anime:

Our story is set beneath the surface of the great metropolis, below the district of Ogi-town in a realm of dreams that floats in a haze of purple lignite smoke.

A network of roads stretches away underground, concealing bandits at every turn! An armored train snakes through the looming darkness: the steel-clad train Sokore 463 is equipped with a 75mm mountain gun that can blow a target to smithereens! In command is the mysterious girl Tanne.

What awaits her and her comrades? From the winding alleys of Akegata (dawn) to the deep subterranean world of Kuragari (dark), a daring adventure unfolds!

The project screened at the 2018 Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June 2018.

The project's novella by Ryohgo Narita (Durarara!!, Baccano!) will be available for those who backed the project at the "Rental Shop" tier (12,000 yen, or about US$110). The novel centers on Kagari, the "garden spinner" girl who works in a mapping and information service in the labyrinthine and ever-changing capital city. She and her colleague get involved in a conspiracy.